Frank (Junie) O’Brien Jr. of Boston and Edgartown died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, Feb. 2. He was 92 and had been a summer resident of Edgartown for more than half a century.
He was born in Andover on April 16, 1919, the son of the late Frank and Dorothy O’Brien. He graduated from the Phillips Academy, Andover and was a member of the class of 1944 at Yale University, where he was a dedicated student and captain of their baseball teams.
Junie taught English and coached varsity ice hockey and baseball at the Groton School in Groton for 33 years, hugely enjoying his life at the school. He was a beloved teacher and coach, and then worked as director of development and alumni affairs for the school. In addition, he was a dedicated staff member at Keewaydin Camp in Ontario, Canada, for many years. Following his career at Groton, Junie and his wife Muffin pursued their love of education by founding O’Brien Associates, an educational consulting business for 12 years.
He served on the board of trustees at Westminster School, the Dynamy Program and Brookwood School, all the while spending summers in Edgartown, where the O’Briens first came in 1960, and bought their home on North Water street in 1969. Junie was actively involved with the Edgartown Yacht Club tennis program, which he ran for some 15 years, and the Edgartown Reading Room. His retirement was spent enjoying his passions — canoeing in K41, playing tennis and golf, a game he took up at the age of 75 because he thought it would be a good way to hang out with his friends who all played golf. He followed a myriad of sports, especially his beloved Red Sox and Bruins. And most of all he enjoyed spending time in his chair on the Havoc House porch with his family and longtime friends.
Junie was the cherished husband of Marianna Mead O’Brien; the adored father of Dede (O’Brien) and Jack Baker of Beverly, Elsie (O’Brien) and Stever Aubrey of Dedham and Edgartown, Louise O’Brien of Dedham, and Frank O’Brien 3rd and his wife, Amy (Buckley), of Hingham. He was the much-loved grandfather of Annie, Alex and Carly Baker, Lilah and Tyler Aubrey, George and Julia Scully, and Jay, Trevor and Liza O’Brien.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Groton School Chapel in Groton.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent in memory of Junie O’Brien to the Keewaydin Foundation, 10 Keewaydin Rd., Salisbury, VT 05769 or at keewaydin.org.
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